Twin Paradox and Time Travel (Special Relativity)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on a homework problem involving the twin paradox in special relativity, where identical twins Speedo and Goslo travel to Planet X at different speeds. Speedo travels at 0.950c and Goslo at 0.750c, and the task is to calculate the age difference upon Goslo's arrival. It is noted that Speedo's travel time is 21 years in the stationary reference frame. To determine the time experienced by Speedo, time dilation must be applied alongside the travel time. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding time dilation and its implications for the twins' ages.
scurry18
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Homework Statement


Identical twins Speedo and Goslo join amigration from the Earth to Planet X. It is 20.0 light years away in a reference frame in which both planets are at rest. The twins, of the same age, depart at the same time on different spacecraft s. Speedo's craft travels steadily at .950c, and Goslo's travvels at .750c. Calculate the age difference between the twein after Goslo's spacecraft lands on Planet X. Which twin is older?


Homework Equations


(1-v^2/c^2)^1/2 x time of travel


The Attempt at a Solution


Speedo travels for 21 years.
 
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scurry18 said:



The Attempt at a Solution


Speedo travels for 21 years.


That's in the frame of reference in which the planets are at rest. How long does it take on Speedo's clock?
 
I'm really unsure on how to figure that out.
 
What concepts that could be relevant here have you encountered so far in special relativity?
 
Just the above equation and length contraction
 
It's really time dilation that you would use together with your result of "21 years", but length contraction will work, too, in a slightly indirect way.
 
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